Ulrich Herkenhoff is one of the most important virtuoso on the panflute in Germany. On his website http://www.art-of-pan.de/ you can read about his most important successes:
Through his interpretation of classical music Ulrich Herkenhoff has inspired several contemporary composers to write music for the panflute. In 1992 he was awarded the Munich “Förderpreis des Gasteig Kulturkreises” (Sponsorship of Culture Group) and in 1996 with the Bavarian “Staatsförderpreis für junge Künstler” (State Sponsorship for Young Artists).
Besides giving concerts Ulrich Herkenhoff is also acting in the pedagogical area; he is invited to national and international panflute seminars as an instructor since several years. In 1993 he inaugurated the first official class for panflute at the music-school in Bad Tölz, Germany. In the year 2000 he received the famous “Echo” award of the “Deutsche Phono Akademie e.V.” for his CD “Symphonic Cinema”, honoured as best classical virtuoso of the year.
Since then Herkenhoff is also much asked for as soloist for cinema soundtracks. Among others he participated in the Oscar-winning music of “Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King” (composer: Howard Shore). He also contributed to the recording of Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack of “Fateless” (Roman eines Schicksallosen).
At the moment there are no videos showing Ulrich Herkenhoff with plucked strings. But he has played with guitarists several times, and another concert with Prof. Wolfgang Jungwirth is planned for later this year.
Two videos show Ulrich Herkenhoff with improvisations about Rumanian folk music, accompanied by Laurentiu Ciocanel on the tambal, an instrumant similar to the cymbal from Hungary and the Hackbrett (hamered dulcimer) used in folk music of different countries. This sounds at least like a plucked instrument.
Ulrich Herkenhoff and Laurentiu Ciocanel
Ulrich Herkenhoff, panflute and Laurentiu Ciocanel, tambal, play rumanian folkmusic at the panflute-workshop in Garsten, Austria.:
Next an example of a modern piece, the very popular and often played Syrinx, composed by Claude Debussy for the flute:
Ulrich Herkenhoff plays “Syrinx”
Ulrich Herkenhoff, panflutevirtuoso, plays “Syrinx” from Claude Debussy on his ebony-wood-panflute, made by himself.
Next an example with music by Johann Sebastina Bach:
Ulrich Herkenhoff and Capella Istropolitana 2
Finally the video from the Echo event in 2000. Ulrich Herkenhoff plays the music from the movie Out of Africa by John Barry.
Ulrich Herkenhoff, Echopreis 2000
Filmmusik aus Jenseits von Afrika von John Barry
Additional Information
Websites of Ulrich Herkenhoff:
Official website: www.art-of-pan.de
Publishing company specialized in music for the panflute, CDs, DVDs: www.muscal-verlag.com
Panflute shop – here you can buy instruments: www.panfloetenshop.com
About studying the panflute: www.panfloetenstudium.eu
Information about the instrument tambal: http://www.eliznik.org.uk/RomaniaMusic/tambal.htm